Jason Trusnik goes from practice squad to big hitter for NY Jets

Jared Wickerham/Getty ImagesThe Jets' Jason Trusnik, right, sacks AJ Feely of the Eagles during a preseason game last month.The sound traveled across Ohio, from Bexley to Tiffin to Westerville, 277 times on Saturday afternoons.

Years later, far away from a place he’d never heard of, Jets special teams coach Mike Westhoff hears that same bone-crunching thud.

It comes from Jason Trusnik, a guy most people have never heard of.

“He knocks them on their (rear-end),” Westhoff said. “He’s just a tough guy. He hits real hard and it hurts.”

Trusnik’s path from two-time Division 3 All-American to AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after a standout performance in the Jets’ Week 3 win over the Titans has been sprinkled with desire.

“He understands coming in as an undrafted free agent that he’s got to do all the little things right,” special teams ace Larry Izzo said. “He’s worked at his game and taken a lot of pride in the role that he’s had. Obviously, he’s had to do it the hard way.”

Plucked from little known Ohio Northern University in the northwestern part of the state, Trusnik was fortunate former Jets coach Eric Mangini took notice of a brilliant college career that included a mind-boggling 277 career tackles and an 18-sack season.

“I just took the opportunity and worked my butt off to work my way on to the practice squad,” Trusnik said.

He spent more than half of his rookie year of 2007 on the practice squad, sharing a small apartment with a teammate. He then spent the first half of last season on the Physically Unable to Perform list with a broken foot.

Trusnik, who also plays linebacker, had a solid training camp for Rex Ryan this year, but was still on the bubble to make the final 53-man roster. Trusnik insisted he wasn’t racked by nerves before the final cuts were announced.

“You never know what can happen,” Trusnik said. “Certain things could not go your way. Thankfully, my play in the preseason was good enough to make the team.”

He wasted little time making an impact with a solid season-opening performance that earned him the special teams game ball. Last week, Trusnik’s forced fumble and recovery on a kickoff set up the Jets’ second touchdown. He took on a block, fought through it and jarred the ball loose after nailing the returner.

“Before the game, Westhoff told us that there were going to be opportunities there for us to get a turnover,” Izzo said. “Obviously, he paid attention.”

The 6-4, 250-pound Trusnik, a defensive end in college, has adapted to Westhoff’s special teams schemes.

“Is he the fastest guy down the field? No,” Westhoff said. “But when you get to him, he really gets it. I love him. He’s made plays. He’s made blocks. I have a point scale system that I use and right now he’s off the charts with it.”

Trusnik has also flashed his skills as a linebacker in the past. He had a pair of tackles and a fumble recovery in last year’s season finale against the Dolphins.

In the preseason, Ryan and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine used Trusnik at both inside and outside linebacker.

“You have to know your role,” Trusnik said. “If it’s special teams and backup linebacker, that’s the role I’ll play. I take each play as another opportunity to show what I got.”

NOTES

Cornerbacks Lito Sheppard (quad) and Donald Strickland (ankle) are officially out after missing practice all week.

“They’re not ready to go 100 percent,” Ryan said. “We think we could probably play them right now if we had to, but I don’t think it’s fair to them. They haven’t practiced for two weeks."

Ryan admitted he “definitely thought about” signing a cornerback. But he ultimately decided that he’d be able to creatively use his four safeties instead. For the second consecutive week, Dwight Lowery will play Sheppard’s spot and Drew Coleman will play nickel packages.

Strickland, who revealed that he has a high ankle sprain, said he expects to play in Week 5.

“I’ve (made) a lot of progress,” Strickland said. “It was a high ankle sprain. I thought it was just a regular ankle sprain. So it took a little more time to get back to full speed. Things are looking bright for next week.”

Mark Sanchez will be one of six Jets to wear pink cleats to honor the league’s Breast Cancer Awareness month.